I watched a documentary today with another poetic exchange about families supporting each other. I am always amazed at how no matter what happens when it comes to entertainment stories families always end up with a happy ending where the parents come through for their children somehow. In real life, it doesn’t work that way.
In real life, it is more like Plato’s Cave or Christ’s parable of the Sower’s seeds. People sometimes can only be themselves within their capabilities. That’s what the Serenity Prayer is about. I know that I can change my own behavior and I have control over my own behavior, but I really can’t change or control anyone else’s behavior.
The most well-known place that people relate the Serenity Prayer to is AA. So, I’m going to relate this to my alcoholic father. He was a good father. He wanted to provide for his family and his children. He didn’t go out at night, and he participated in family activities and events. He tried to be present. At the same time, he was emotionally unavailable and sometimes he would drink to excess and become verbally abusive. I can say all these things and know that I accept him exactly as he was. I never had a deep personal talk with him. He just wouldn’t or couldn’t do that. Yet, the way he behaved, I knew that he was immensely proud of me and that he loved me. I couldn’t change him and make him into my vision of what I thought a father should be. I couldn’t make him not drink. I couldn’t make him talk to me. I could accept him as he was and love the father I had.
I can’t change the world. I can’t mold it to be the vision that I think the world should be. All I can do is accept my brothers and sisters in Christ and love them with the same patience, forgiveness, kindness, and understanding that I try to give myself. I know this world isn’t perfect, but it’s the only one God gave us. The best we can hope for is that the love inside of us somehow changes the world around us a little.
I once asked my husband why he liked Bernie Sanders. My husband told me that politicians like Bernie Sanders don’t make huge changes in the world of politics, but over time they move the needle just a bit and if there are enough politicians like that, then major changes can happen. Well, I want to be a Christian that moves the needle just a bit. I know I can’t have world peace, but if I can spread just a little of God’s love into this world, then maybe it will make enough of a difference.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
